Highly selective asymmetric hydrogenation using a three hindered quadrant bisphosphine rhodium catalyst

A concise synthesis of both enantiomers of ligand 2 and rhodium complex 5 is presented. The crux of the synthesis is a chiral HPLC separation of the enantiomers of 4. Rhodium complex 5 possesses three hindered quadrants in the steric environment within which a substrate binds. Evidence is presented that this configuration leads to high enantioselectivity (>99% ee) for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-acetamido dehydroamino acids, 6a-e. High enantioselectivities are also reported for the hydrogenation of a substrate precursor, 8, of pharmaceutical candidate, pregabalin. Advantages for large-scale hydrogenation of 8 using catalyst 5a vs Rh-Me-DuPhos are discussed.